8 Most Important Questions to Ask a Cybersecurity Provider
Cybersecurity is an issue that affects every business. Both small and large companies are victims of potential hackers. There are important questions that business professionals and consumers must ask when interviewing a cybersecurity organization. Here are the questions to ask a cybersecurity provider to ensure your company’s assets and data are safe.
1. What cybersecurity experience do you have?
You should ask the consultant what they have done in the past. If possible, they should give you proof of previous work. Ask the consultant for the phone number of his past and current customers. You will get more information from past clients on whether the cybersecurity consultant did a good job or not.
A consultant with previous experience is in a better position to assess your organization’s security risks. Most cyber threats are tailored to individual industries. Therefore, it’s crucial to know if the consultant has previous experience working for your company. Speaking with the consultant’s past and current clients will give you an overview of the consultant’s work.
2. How are you going to protect my personal or confidential information?
The IT provider must have strict policies in place to protect your information. Hackers get smarter since they know that more organizations are putting up more defences. Cybercriminals are using blackmail towards the end consumer in exchange for seized information. They are targeting the customer and client base for a smaller monetary amount with a threat of not releasing private information of value. They know there is more money in going after the end customers and not the organization.
3. Do you offer two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a verification process that needs you to enter your password along with something that is delivered in real-time, like a code. It could also be a one-time login that you receive through text. The added layer of security means that hackers need another element to access your account.
4. Who will perform the cybersecurity assessment?
Before a cybersecurity plan can be developed, an assessment must be done on your system. At that time, your information will be vulnerable. If you grant access to anyone, it could lead to hacking of your sensitive information. The cybersecurity consultant can outsource the assessment or do it in-house. If done in-house, the consultant must train their employees to handle the information securely. If the assessment is contracted, you have to be familiar with the contracted firm’s training process. Knowing who will perform the assessment ensures that your information is secure.
5. How do you handle business data?
You’ll have peace of mind when you know your intellectual property and customer information is secure. If your business data lands in the wrong hands, it can lead to your system being hacked. Make sure you check with the IT consultant how they handle business data. Find out where they back up their data and the data security measures they use for avoiding cyberattacks.
6. Do you offer employee training on cybersecurity?
Employees play a vital role in keeping your organization’s information secure. It’s easy for employees to compromise your company’s cybersecurity. All it takes is one wrong click. Therefore, you need to take the necessary steps to train your employees on ways to prevent future cybersecurity attacks.
7. Do you have the latest operating system and software versions?
Hackers take advantage of software vulnerabilities and security flaws. Therefore, you should fix any security loopholes as soon as possible. The IT company needs to update software regularly. Updating your software fixes any security bugs.
8. Have you suffered any cyberattacks?
Any organization can be targeted for a cyberattack. When an organization gets breached, what matters is how it addresses the issue.
When you have answers to the above questions, you’ll be able to gauge your organization’s cybersecurity. If you need IT solutions for your firm, please contact us.
